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Spencer Pratt invaded his mayoral rival Nithya Raman’s own backyard for an election event that drew hundreds of locals concerned about Los Angeles future.
The former reality TV star turned serious political contender held a meet-and-greet at a supporter’s home in Sherman Oaks Saturday, with many saying they were sick of living in fear in the San Fernando Valley, which has been hit by a string of violent burglaries in recent months.
Before the event, Pratt fired off a blistering public safety message, accusing city leaders of pointing to falling crime statistics, while ignoring what residents are experiencing on the streets.
“It’s easy to say crime is down when you simply stop responding to crimes,” Pratt wrote in a social media post.
And crime was the on the minds of most residents, who lined up to speak to a patient Pratt about their concerns.
One mother talked about being attacked while shopping with her children. Many others described the growing frustration with homelessness and quality-of-life issues.
One of the strongest messages came from Sana Lahar, a Sherman Oaks mother-of-three who has spent 20 years helping save the lives of children as a cardiac perfusionist.
“I wanted him to see the face of a mom with three kids,” Lahar said. “We’re real and we care about the safety of our children and our families and our community.”
Lahar’s home was burglarized several years ago, and police took more than an hour to arrive because officers later explained they were severely understaffed.
“I didn’t feel safe in my own home,” she said.
She also explained she was shopping with her children at a grocery store one Sunday morning when a thief attempted to steal her purse and pepper sprayed her.
“I just want to feel safe again,” she said. ‘”That’s simply it.”
Lahar said her concerns are not unique and urged other mothers to speak up about safety concerns affecting families.
“I think him talking directly to mothers really resonates with voters,” she said. “I think it’s important that as mothers we feel heard and seen.”
The frustration extended beyond parents.
Tom Glick said he once campaigned for Nithya Raman because he believed her to be a fresh outsider ready to shake up City Hall.
Now, he says she became exactly what she promised not to be.
“As soon as she ran, she forgot about the people in the community that campaigned for her.”
He criticized Raman’s handling of public safety and policing issues.
“I do not think Nithya Raman takes public safety seriously,” the resident said.
Public safety has become a central focus of Pratt’s campaign, a message he’s amplified through a series of powerful online videos. One portrayed him as a superhero cleaning up Los Angeles and taking on the city’s problems.
Jenny Leeser said Pratt’s messages have hit home because he was putting words to frustrations many residents have been carrying quietly for years.
“Because I love the fact that we finally have a candidate who’s speaking the truth and cares for the city,” Leeser said.
When asked what resonated with her most, she answered immediately.
“The truth. Everything,” she said. “Our city has been destroyed.”
When asked what he would focus on first if elected mayor, Pratt repeatedly returned to one answer: public safety.
“Public safety,” he said, describing it as a day-one priority.
The concerns raised Saturday come amid a more complicated citywide backdrop.
Recent LAPD data shows several violent crime categories trending downward across Los Angeles in 2026, though property crime and burglary concerns continue in some neighborhoods.
Sherman Oaks and surrounding areas of the San Fernando Valley have had a string of residential and commercial burglaries.
By the end of the afternoon, the event had become less about a celebrity candidate and more about something many in the room appeared to share: a belief that public safety fears are becoming one of the most powerful forces shaping Los Angeles politics.
“We need change, our city has suffered way too long,” said Lahar.
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